Concrete form



March 6, 1951 J. H. ROSENBLATT CONCRETE FORM ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1949 March 6, 1951 J. H. ROSENBLATT CONCRETE FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1949 INV TOR.

ATTORNE Patented Mar. '6, 1951 -,-;UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE T q 2,544,110 3 -e n CONCRETE FORM I Joel H. Itosenblatti Baltimore Md; Application May 24', 1949,s ri 1No. 95,065

This invention relates to concrete forms and is more particularlyeoncerned with the provision of forms for use in constructing concrete structures, such as bridgei'piers, dams, causeways, etc.

' A'particular application of the invention is in the constructionof underwater concrete structures which are usually accomplished either by the prefabrication of forms in units which are then transported to the structure siteand set in place or by actually constructing the forms at the site. These forms are expensive to fabricate and costly to set iri'pla'ce. They, are generally not recoverable, particularly in underwater constructions and areleft in place after the concrete is poured and setfdue to thehigh cost of dismantling them as well: as the impracticability' jIn -many concrete construction projects, a number of units of the project are similar. For example, in bridge projects','a number of piersmay beo'f the samesize and'design or contain elementssuch as cylinders, trapezoids,-cones, etc.,

of, a common size and shape. In 7 conventional practice, each pier has its own individual form and one forr'nis not use'd-more'than once. One'offthe objects of this invention is the proion of concrete forms which are removable aitr having been used onc and capable of being used-over and over again for constructing an identicalunit or a different unit containing com sections or parts thereof. a I r nother objectof the invention is the provision of pneumatic concrete forms, whicli may be secassembled;and' disassembled in water or:

t ona on nd,-

f Aj further object ofthe ;invention is the provision of double walljed forms which may be floatedinto position and sunki below the surface of a body ofwater and refioated'after being used.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of sectional forms of the type mentioned'in combination with simplified means for securing them togetherandreadily'disassembling them-.-

"T'Stillf another obj'ec ti's tl' e provision of a form for underwaterfconcrete construction "which reirom" the; interior; work* area.

These and other ob ,pts' and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followin description considered; together withthe accom eer n aw n y n Wh e I aW Fig. 1" is a-vertical' cross sectional view of a s ie f ermse bns iisi ci f n connected together in accordance with this invention.

ire uof ux l .msen r w hhbl m W te Claims. (Cl -118)- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the jointbetween two of the sections illustrating details of the securing means.

of only two different types of form sections.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a part of Fig. 3 showing by Way of illustration, the vertical joint between two different types of section.

Fig. 5'is an-isometric view of one of the park tially cylindrical units of Fig. 3 illustrating the manner in which it may be used to prepare a fully cylindrical form.

Referring with more particularity to the drawthetop thereof at a distance below the top substantially equal to the distance between the bottom of the walls and'the bottom of the channel ing in which like numerals designate like parts,

theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a plurality "of water-tight sections ll, 12 and 13, one above the other. Each section comprises an inner wall l4 and an outer Wall l5 with a substantial space l6 therebetween to furnish buoyancywhen'filled with air. The two walls l4 and 15- are helditogether by means of internal bracing members H of any suitable type. The bracing construction should be foraminous or of open work to permit the free passage of air and' I8] and 19, respectively, secured to the inside of the walls.- A channel 20 is disposed between the lower end of the plates I 8 and I9, as shown, to forn a footing.- An inverted channel 2| is disposedbetween the inner and outer walls near At the bottom of the outer wall [5 an angle 22 is secured to provide an outwardly extending abutment flange 23. A similar angle 24 is secured to the top of the outer wall l5 to provide an outwardly extending flange 25.

surface for thecon'cr'ete to set against.

By these means, the bottom of one section fits or is nested= i into the top of another like section with the flanges 23 and 25 in'juxtaposition relative to each other and the upper end of the inner wall of the bottom section abutting the lower end of theinner wall of the upper section, thus providing a secure supPQl and at the same time a smootlif contours of the joint, is inserted in the joint between the sections before they are fitted together Each section is also provided with an air pipe 21 through the top of the outer wall carrying a suitable valve 28 and a water pipe 29 through the bottom of the same wall carrying also a suitable valve 30. The open end of the pipe 29 is covered with a screen guard 3| to prevent clogging of the pipe with foreign matter. 7

By these means, the space in 'each s'ectioninay be filled with air for floating or with water for sinking. Also water may be driven out by forc ing compressed air through the air pipe 21, with the valve 30 open.

The sections are held together by a clamping device 32 consisting of a bar 33 one end of which is provided with a pair of spaced'upp'era'nd iewer offset abutments 34 and 35 adapted tostraddle the flanges 23 and 25 inone position and to bear against them when the bar is rotated thereby forcing the flanges together and providing a water-tightjoint. In this position the otherend of the bar is removably held in a hookmembe'r 36 attached to one of the sections, such as on top-of the flange 23. Conversely, the bar clamping device may be removedby disengaging the bar from-the hook 36. The clamping devices are preferably attached by chains 31 or other flexible means to the sections to prevent losing them and to-avoid the necessity of the riggr carrying them about withhim when attaching and detaching them. v v q I ln-F-ig. 3 there is shown a plurality of sections of the type described assembled to form'a completeunitfor a bridge pier. The unit is for a-common type ofpier-consistin'g of two vertical spaced cylinders connected by a web. The assembled form illustrated comprises a tier of cylindrical sections 40 at one end-and a-tiefr of similar sections 4| at the other end. Each section is provided with outwardly projecting flanges 43-and 44 adapted to-register with corresponding flanges of adjacent sections and being secured together by the clamping devices 32 with gaskets 46 between the section joints. Each section is also provided with an air pipe-4 and a water pipe 48 for the purposes indicatedabove. 7

Should it be desired to eprovideaf-ully cylindrical structure, the sections 40 may be fitted with an insert section 49 (seeFig. *0 bridge the gap therein. It-is obvious that geometrical forms of othertypes and shapes may be used to form any design or composite design desired.

-In; setting the :forms in place, the lowermost section of the unit is filled with air and sealed by closing the valves of the pipes. This then floated to the site. Any suitable-means for towing the sections to the site may be employed, such as b0ats,'barges, cables,-etc.,- and ey-es-SU are provided on each section for attaching crane hooks or other connecting devices. When the section is over the site, water is gradually let-in-by opening the valves, which'causes the section to sink gradually. While the water is being let in, the section is guided into'position by aderrick, divers, or-other suitable means. When thesectionhas sunk to a suitable depth formounting the next sectiomwhich maybe at,slightly abovaorslightly below the water line, the next sectien-isfloated out to the site and'set in place on the first section. The sections are then fitted togetherand secured by the clamping devices and additional water-let-in to sink the combined units to the depth'desired for-securing the next-section. This procedure is repeated until all sec- "otherrigger. from being lost by virtue of their attachment to 'quickly done by releasing the bars from their holding hooks. This may be done by a diver or The clamping devices are prevented the sections with the holding chains.

-'compressed air is then pumped into the sections, and the sections are released from the set concrete. They are then floated and towed away, whereupon they are ready to be reused at another location.

To facilitate freeing "the forms "from the concrete afte'rit'is set,the"ins'iiie"wa11s 6f the forms maybe coated with "6f the usual lubricants, such as'greasejet'c. I

Although this invention lias been described with reference to 'concretefi tfis'to be understood that it may also be used "for other setting materials, such as .plastics. For example, 'ath'ermosetting-resin'may'be used' instead of concrete and steam or hot water circulatedthrou'gh thefse'ctions to "elevate the temperature. Such fluids may also be circulatedin' the form's fo'r otherpurposes, such as for maintaining optimum temperatures'forplac'ing concrete.

It is also to'be understood that the invention is not limited to underwater construction projects and may be used as well on land and Queenstruction Work above water.

Having thus described my inveritionfl claim:

1. A concrete form comprising water-tight sections each having innenand outer walls spaced apart, foraminousmeans for securing said walls in fixedspacedrelationthe upper en'd of one section being complementary to'the lower end of an adjacent section, whereby said ends may be nested together toviorm a.jeint between the sections, and means for removably securing said sections "together. I I

2. A concrete form comprising water-tight sections eachhaving inner and outer walls spaced apart, foram'inous means for securing said walls in fixedspaced-relation, the upper end of onefsection being complementarytothe lower'end o'f'an adj acent section, whereby said ends may benes'teci together to -form ajoint 'between 'the sections, means for removably securing said sections "together, and pipes through saidouter wall atthe top and bottom thereof.

3. A concrete form as defined by claim 2 wherein the -;pipe at the bottom of the outer wall is provided-with-a screen guard about its opening.

4. A concrete'form comprising water-tightsections each having-inner andouter walls spaced apart, ;foraminous-means for securing said 'walls in-flxedspacedrelation, the upper end of one section being complementary to'the lowerend ofan adjacentseotion, whereby saidends may be nested together to form ajoirlt between the said ends, mr aans ior sealing said 1 oiii'ts, and means for removably securing said sections'together.

5. -A; concrete form comprising water-tight sections ,each having inner and outer walls spaced apart, framinous n eans for securing said walls in fixed spaced relation, the upper end of one seetion being complementary to the lower end of an adjacent section, whereby said ends may be nested together to form a joint between said ends, a preformed gasket for said joint, and means for removably securing said sections together.

6. A concrete form comprising water-tight sections each having inner and outer walls spaced apart, foraminous means for securing said walls in fixed spaced relation, the upper end of one section being complementary to the lower end of an adjacent section, whereby said ends may be nested together to form a joint between the sections, a flange carried by each of said sections, the flanges of said adjacent sections being juxtaposed when their said ends are in nested relation, and removable means for urging said flanges toward each other.

--'7. A concrete form comprising water-tight sections having inner and outer walls spaced apart, foraminous means for securing said walls in fixed spaced relation, the upper end of one section being complementary to the lower end of an adjacent section, whereby said ends may be nested together to form a joint between the sections, a flange carried by each of said sections, the flanges of said adjacent sections being juxtaposed when their said ends are in nested relation, a bar having a pair of offset abutments adapted to straddle said flanges, and means for removably holding said bar in a fixed position relative to said flanges.

8. A concrete form as defined by claim 5 having flexible means for securing the bar to one of the sections.

9. A concrete form comprising water-tight sections having inner and outer walls spaced apart, foraminous means for securing said walls in fixed spaced relation, the upper end of one section being complementary to the lower end of an adjacent section, whereby said ends may be nested together to form a joint between the sections, a flange carried by each of said sections, the flanges of said adjacent sections being juxtaposed when said ends are in nested relation, removable means for urging said flanges together, and pipes through said outer wall at the top and bottom thereof.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,029,004 Varni Jan. 28, 1936 2,334,804 Atterbury Nov. 23, 1943 

